I'm so excited to share the cover for BLACK WIDOW and the beginning of this epic tale with my readers. This book has been two years in the making and I'm so excited to finally start getting out of my head and into the hands of readers.

BLACK WIDOW (Book 1 in The Black Widow Series)

“I bet I could make you fall in love in a week.” The offer seals Scott Russell’s fate.

After a bitter betrayal and an ugly divorce, the detective is forced to make a fresh start. His new position in a quiet suburb should be a walk in the park compared to his years in Chicago. However, he quickly learns that small towns come with their own issues, with citizens who are slow to forgive and even slower to forget.

The town’s wealthy and reclusive author is a mystery to most. To Scott, she’s just another nameless girl on the train. With a reserved smile and shoes worth more than a month’s rent, his only concern is that she might be out of his league.

“I can give you seven days, but not my heart.” ​The acceptance is one more in a string of lies.

Celeste Smythe doesn’t believe in love at first sight. Relationships take time and sometimes even that isn’t enough. Not with the secrets she harbors in her guarded heart. Yet fate keeps pushing her toward the handsome and absurdly persistent man, and resisting may be more than she can endure, no matter the risks.When the week is over, Scott may think he knows her. Celeste may know she loves him. But when the truth is revealed about the town’s most talked about citizen, he may discover he’s put much more than his heart on the line.

*Each book in this three-book series will release approximately 3-4 months apart*

Come meet over 40 romance authors such as Kennedy Ryan, Shayla Black, Krista and Becca Ritchie, and me this July 30th in Grapevine, Texas!

This fantastic event is hosted by A Literary Perusal, Southern Belle Book Blog, and Panty Dropping Book Blog. All proceeds will benefit ProLiteracy.

Location: Embassy Suites DFW North. Overnight guests can expect free shuttle to/from the DFW airport, free hot breakfast and free nightly cocktail hour. Rooms have been blocked at a special rate of $139 per night for this event and information will be made available to the public in April 2016.

Summer is officially here, and what better way to celebrate than with a 50% off sale?​This special sale started in the U.S. today and will start in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand on Saturday, June 25th. The sale ends in all territories on Monday, June 27th.

Kobo customers can redeem 50% off of many titles using the promo code 50JUN an unlimited number of times. Use this incredible opportunity to stack your eReader with eBooks!

All of my books are included. If you were so inclined, you could buy all of my published titles for less than $8!

FINE PRINT: Promo code is valid for 50% off select eBook purchases from this list. Discount will be confirmed at checkout. Offer valid from June 22, 2016 at 12:00 AM EST through June 27, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST. This offer is not valid in conjunction with any other offer or promotion and cannot be used to adjust amount paid on previous purchases. Promo code must be entered at time of purchase to qualify for this discount. Discounts cannot be applied nor the discount value refunded once a purchase is complete. Rakuten Kobo Inc. reserves the right to change or cancel this offer at any time without notice.

[Update July 1, 2016: This contest is now closed. Thanks to everyone who entered. Winners will be notified via email and announced in the next newsletter. If you're not a subscriber, be sure to sign up! ]

Help me! This guy needs a name.

Naming a character should be the easiest part. The physical description, their personality traits, dialog ticks … that should be the tough stuff. But, I fuss over names. And the more books I write, the harder it becomes.

In the beginning, I let real life inspire my characters’ names. The supporting character list from the Joy books reads like the character list in my real life. Even the title refers to a dear friend. My fictional characters have nothing in common with their real life counterparts. That was never the point. The name is simply a tribute to its owner for putting up with me (which is a feat, let me tell you).

The downside of that is I now have villains named after sweet, caring, wonderful people. I also have a character who, not thinking ahead, I named after my son. Now, I’d love to write a spin-off book for this character, but the name alone is a recipe for writer’s block. Trust me. I've tried.

Well I’m at it again--knee deep in my current work in progress and spinning my wheels while I pluck names from the ether. I’m currently stuck on the letter “C.” Celeste. Camille. Cal. Curt. Like a broken record player, I keep trying to name every character with a name that begins with the letter "C."

Help me avoid an absolute alliteration abomination (see what I did there)!

​Here’s your chance to get your name in print. Or your enemy’s. Most of you know, how I like to kill off characters. Want somebody dead? Just put in a request. Characters who currently need names:​

Male/ Mid-thirties/ethnicity TBD: He's been the hero's partner for many years with the exception of a brief lapse when the hero made detective before he did. This character stands on high moral ground, and due to one or both of their actions, the hero has now taken a new job with a police department in a wealthy suburb of Chicago. This character has a reoccurring role in the book as the hero’s best friend and a voice of reason.

Female/Mid to late-fifties/Caucasian: This character is my heroine’s mother. She’s exceptionally wealthy, but sweet as sugar (even sugar burns sometimes). She remains married to the hero’s father, a controlling man who has an estranged relationship with his daughter. I anticipate writing a few chapters from this character’s point of view, as she has a unique and complicated relationship with and view of her daughter.

Have a suggestion? Comment below with your proposed names for either or both of the characters. Selected winner(s) will receive a signed paperback when the book is published as well as their names in the acknowledgments.

This is huge! I've joined together with some amazing authors to give you the chance to win an Amazon Gift Card worth $1440. I promise, this is the real deal! It's such a random number, you know it has to be!

Attention all awesome people! This month is a cool time to be a reader. 101 of your favorite authors contributed to one massive giveaway! Giveaway rules are listed on the rafflecopter. International peeps can play! Got any questions? Feel free to ask. There are 100 ways to enter for a maximum possible 500+ entries per person. The giveaway lasts the entire month of April, so come back every day and hammer away at a few more entries until you're all done!

Terms & conditions are listed on the rafflecopter. Read it for full details. The winner will be chosen on May 1, 2016 and contacted via the email address they used to enter. CHECK YOUR EMAIL! The winner's name will also be posted†on the rafflecopter widget above.

Participating Romance Authors:

101 different authors came together to make this giveaway possible. If you've been looking for a new book boyfriend, or you're literally famished between your fave author's releases, check out some of my peeps! They write in various hot romance genres including contemporary romance, new adult romance, erotic romance, steamy romance, urban fantasy romance, dystopian romance, historical romance, futuristic/ sci-fi/ fantasy romance, Teen/ YA romance, inspirational romance and time travel romance!

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
​Must be 18 years of age or older to win. No cash value. Void where prohibited. Open to international & US residents. *The winner will receive an e-gift card via PayPal in the amount of $3000USD for this prize.* Winner must have: 1. an email account, 2. may be requested to fill out additional paperwork for tax purposes, and 3. must have a PayPal account to accept the prize. We are not responsible for fees taken by PayPal for this transaction, nor are we in any way responsible for VAT and/ or taxes. We are not responsible for items damaged or lost in the e-mail. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook. We hereby release Facebook of any liability. By entering you agree that we are in no way to be held liable for anything pertaining to this giveaway. Winner(s) will be contacted by email 72 hours after the giveaway ends. You must claim your prize within 48 hours or it is forfeited and another winner will be selected. If you have any additional questions - feel free to send us an email!